The Proud Gardeners
They proudly declared that it had come from a bush in their very own garden.
Reference: Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord ’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. (2 Chronicles 29:6 NIV)
Explore: I recently visited an elderly couple who are friends of mine. When I walked in their house the first thing I noticed was this stunning rose in a vase on the dining room table.
It was the deepest red and its petals were perfectly placed. I complimented them on its beauty and they proudly declared that it had come from a bush in their very own garden.
However, the bush was not always healthy and producing such beauty. It had been planted at the back of their garden and it hardly grew at all, let alone produce such amazing flowers.
My friend decided that the whole bush needed to be transplanted to another bed in the garden that received more sun. They did so and the more sun the bush got, the better it grew.
Finally it started producing buds and before they knew it, this stunning red rose had appeared. Just when they had almost lost hope in this plant, they moved it into the sun and it was transformed.
Application: This is often the case with us too. We can get in a dark place and find we’re not going anywhere. We stagnate, bear little to no fruit and struggle to survive.
We can either choose to stay there or choose to move into the light. The move can be risky and dangerous, however, once we’re in the glow of the Son we will find purpose, growth and a fulfilled life.
King Hezekiah inherited a kingdom that had been in the dark corner of the garden. But he dedicated himself to moving it into the Light.
Prayer: Lord, it’s easy to get comfortable in the dark, even when we know it’s not the place You desire us to be. Help us to be willing to be vulnerable and to move into the light. Amen.
Where are you placed in the garden of life at the moment?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.